Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE
[0001] Latching assembly
FIELD
[0002] This relates to a latching assembly, such as a latching assembly
that may be used
to latch a rotating control device with a riser.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Rotating control devices are often used in order to manage
pressure when drilling
.. offshore. The rotating control device is generally secured to a riser by
way of a removable
latch in order to simplify installation and removal. United States patent no.
7,487,837 (Bailey
et al.) entitled "Riser Rotating Control Device" describes a latching assembly
that connects to
a riser, and that can be released remotely.
SUMMARY
[0004] There is provided a latching assembly, comprising a tubular
housing having an
outer surface and an inner surface that defines an inner bore. Latch members
carried by the
housing have a latch position that extends out from the outer surface and a
release position
that is retracted from the latch position. A plurality of gripping members are
pivotally
attached to the housing, the gripping members having a first end that is
pivotally attached to
the tubular housing and a second end extending outward from the first end. The
gripping
members pivotally move between a gripping position wherein the second end of
the gripping
members extend into the inner bore to engage a tubular member and a retracted
position. An
actuator engages the latch members and the gripping members and moves between
a first
position and a second position, the actuator engaging the latch members and
the gripping
members such that the actuator moves the latch members from the latch position
to the release
position and the gripping members from the retracted position to the gripping
position as the
actuator moves from the first position to the second position.
[0005] According to another aspect, the latching assembly may further
comprise a first
locking element that moves between a locked position to secure the latch
members in the
latch position, and a release position to release the latch members from the
latch position.
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[0006] According to another aspect, the actuator may be an electrical
actuator.
[0007] According to another aspect the latching assembly may further
comprise a second
locking mechanism that moves between a locked position to secure the latch
members in the
release position, and a release position to release the latch members from the
release position.
[0008] According to another aspect, the latch members may comprise a spring
element
that biases the latch members toward the release position.
[0009] According to another aspect, the latching assembly may further
comprise a
secondary release element that slides axially along the housing and is
connected to the
actuator such that, when actuated, the secondary release element moving the
actuator from the
first position to the second position.
[0010] According to another aspect, the first end of the gripping
members may comprise
a first pivotal connection that connects the gripping members and the actuator
and a second
pivotal connection spaced along the gripping members from the first pivotal
connection, the
second pivotal connection that connects the gripping members and the housing
and the
actuator moving radially such that the actuator moves the gripping members
between the
gripping position and the release position.
[0011] According to another aspect, the first end of the gripping
members may comprise
a cam surface that engages the actuator, the actuator moving axially along the
housing and
applying a force to the cam surface to rotate the gripping members between the
gripping
position and the release position.
[0012] According to another aspect, the actuator may comprise a first
portion that moves
axially along the housing and a second portion that moves radially within the
housing, the
first portion engaging the second portion by a sloped engagement surface such
that the axial
movement of the first portion results in the radial movement of the second
portion.
[0013] According to another aspect, there is provided, in combination, a
riser defining a
central bore, a drill string extending through the riser, and a latching
assembly as described
above positioned within the central bore of the riser and receiving the drill
string within the
central bore of the housing of the latching assembly. A sealing and bearing
assembly is
mounted to the drill string and attached to the latching assembly.
[0014] The aspects described above may be combined together in any
reasonable
combination. Other aspects will become apparent from the description and
drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] These
and other features will become more apparent from the following
description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings
are for the
purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting,
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view in section of a latching assembly in a
released
position.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view in section of a latching assembly in a latched
position.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view in section of a latching assembly in a
released
position with a running tool positioned within the assembly.
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view in section of a latching assembly and the
running
tool expanded to engage the assembly.
FIG. 5 is a side elevation view in section of the latching assembly being
actuated
toward a release position.
FIG. 6 is a side elevation view in section of the latching assembly in a
released
position.
FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a latching assembly securing a bearing
assembly
in a riser.
FIG. 8 is a side elevation view in section of a latching assembly securing a
bearing
assembly in a riser.
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of an alternative latching assembly in a latched
position.
FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of an alternative latching assembly in a
latched
position.
FIG. 11 is a side elevation view in section of an alternative latching
assembly in a
latched position.
FIG. 12 is a side elevation view in section of an alternative latching
assembly in a
release position.
FIG. 13 is a side elevation view in section of an alternative latching
assembly in a
manually released position.
FIG. 14 is a side elevation view in section of an alternative latching
assembly in a
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latching position
FIG. 15 is a side elevation view in section of the alternative latching
assembly of
FIG. 14 in a release position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016]
Referring to FIG. 7 and 8, a latching assembly 100 is used to secure a bearing
assembly 102 to a riser 104. Riser 104 has a port 106 that is designed to be
attached to a
conduit (not shown) for pumping fluids, such as drilling mud. Bearing assembly
102 may
include a bearing section and a seal section, which may be separate or
integrally formed. The
actual configuration of bearing assembly 102 will vary depending on the
preferences of the
user and the demands of the situation. As can be seen, latching assembly 100
preferably
carries bearing assembly 102 and latches to riser 104. While latching assembly
100 and
bearing assembly 102 are shown as separate components, they may be integrally
formed,
depending on the space requirements and preferences of the user. During normal
operation,
latching assembly 100 and bearing assembly 102 support a tubular 108, such as
a drill string,
that passes through each assembly 100 and 102 and through one or more seals
110. Bearing
assembly 102 may be removed by unlatching latching assembly 100, and pulling
bearing
assembly 102 to surface. As latching assembly 100 is removed with bearing
assembly 102, it
can be serviced at the same time as bearing assembly 102. Referring to FIG. 9
and 10, the
latches can be seen extending from latching assembly 100.
[0017]
Referring to FIG. 1 and 2, details of the latching assembly are shown. The
example shown in FIG. 1 ¨ 6 has the following elements indicated by reference
numbers:
11 ¨ housing
12 ¨ bottom cap
13¨ unlock sleeve
14¨ shear pin
15 ¨ latch lock ring
16¨ latch lock ring pin
17¨ latch lock ring guide pin
18 ¨ latch lock ring return spring
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19¨ latch lock ring electrical device
20¨ unlatch lock ring
21 ¨ unlatch lock ring guide pin
22 - unlatch lock ring spring
5 23 - unlatch lock ring electrical device
24 ¨ latch segment
25 ¨ latch shaft
26¨ latch spring
27 ¨ latch electrical device
28 ¨ latch shaft o-ring
29¨ unlock sleeve segment
30¨ unlock sleeve segment pin
31 ¨ unlock sleeve fulcrum pin
32¨ retrieval arm
33 ¨ retrieval arm anchor pin
34 ¨ electrical device mount bolt
35 ¨ self control power source (SCPC)-1
36¨ self control power source (SCPC)-2
37 ¨ wireless device
38 ¨ unlock sleeve o-ring
39¨ bottom cap o-ring
40¨ bottom cap bolts
41 ¨ unlatch running tool
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, there is a tubular housing 11 with an outer
surface 50 and an
inner surface 52 that defines an inner bore 54. A latch 24 is carried by the
housing 11 that has
a latch position as shown in FIG. 2 extending out from the outer surface and a
release position
as shown in FIG. 1 retracted from the latch position, preferably flush with or
recessed from
the outer surface 50 of the housing 11, but in any event, sufficiently
retracted to disengage
from the corresponding groove or aperture in the riser (not shown). An
electrical actuator 27,
such as an electromagnet, moves the latch 24 between the latch position and
the release
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position. The electrical actuator 27 may take other forms as well, and may
apply forces in
either direction, depending on the signal being transmitted. Alternatively and
as shown, the
latch 27 may be biased by a spring 26 or other resilient member, toward the
unlatched
position as shown, or the latched position in other embodiments, such that the
electrical
actuator 27 merely applies a force to move the latch to the other position.
[0019] The
latch 24 is secured by a first locking element 15 that moves between a locked
position to secure the latch 24 in the latch position as shown in FIG. 2, and
a release position
to release the latch 24 from the latch position as shown in FIG. 1. As shown,
the first locking
element 15 is a latch lock ring. Latch lock ring 15 may take other forms, and
may be made up
of one or more components. Preferably, a second locking element 20 is also
provided, shown
as a unlatch lock ring, which has a locked position that secures the latch 24
in the release
position as shown in FIG. 1, and a release position that permits the latch to
move between the
latched and the unlatched positions as shown in FIG. 2 - 6. As depicted, the
locking elements
15 and 20 move perpendicular to the direction of travel by the latch 24. As
with the latch 24,
each locking element 15 and 20 may be powered by an electrical actuator in
either both
directions, or only one direction with a biasing element, such as a spring,
that biases the
locking element toward the other position. As shown, first locking element 15
is moved to a
retraced position by an electromagnet 19 and is biased toward an extended
position by a
spring 18 while second locking element 20 is moved to a retraced position by
an
electromagnet 27 and is biased toward an extended position by a spring 22.
[0020] The
latch 24 and the locking elements 12 and 20 are preferably powered by an
onboard power source 35 or 36 that is carried by the housing 11, such as a
battery pack, and
are preferably controlled by a wireless controller 37 that is programmed to
control the
position of the latch 24, the first locking element 15 and the second locking
element 20 based
on signals received from a controller (not shown), such as a computer located
at an operator's
station. The combination of the onboard power source 35 and 36 and the
wireless
communicator 37 allow the latching assembly 100 to operate without any
umbilicals running
.. to the assembly 100.
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[0021]
Referring to FIG. 3 ¨ 6, in addition to the latch 24 described above, the
latching
assembly 100 also preferably includes a tubular gripping assembly as well as a
secondary
release mechanism.
[0022] The latching assembly 100 has a cantilevered gripping member 32 that
is
positioned within the inner bore 54 of the housing 11. The gripping member 32
is connected
to the housing 11 by a movable connection such as fulcrum pin 31, and is also
preferably
connected to the latch 24. As depicted in FIG. 1, as the latch 24 moves toward
the release
position, the latch 24 pushes out on the cantilevered gripping member 32,
causing it to pivot
about the movable connection 31 and therefore extend into the inner bore 54,
allowing it to
engage a tubular member (not shown), such as a drill string or running tool.
Depending on
the tolerances and the actual movement of the various component, it will be
understood that
the movable connection 31 or the engagement of the latch 24 may require some
lateral
movement as well as pivoting movement to accommodate the movement of the latch
24. The
cantilevered gripping arm 32 may be used to grip, for example, a joint of a
tubular member
such as a drill string or a portion of a running tool, etc. that has an
enlarged radius or other
gripping surface.
[0023]
Referring to FIG. 3 ¨ 6, the secondary release element 29 is also connected to
move with the latch 24 and is engaged by a collar or unlock sleeve 13 that is
slidably engaged
within the inner bore 54 of the housing 11. As shown, the secondary release
element 29 is
secured to the inward end of the latch 24 and extends downward opposite the
cantilevered
gripping arm 32 in the depicted example. The collar 13 engages the secondary
release
element 29 as it is raised and applies a force to move the latch 24 to the
release position. As
shown, the collar 13 is preferably engaged by a running tool 56 that engages
the collar 13,
such as by expanding outward to become secured within an inner profile 58 of
the collar 13 as
shown in FIG. 4, which allows an upward force to be applied to the collar 13
to engage the
secondary release element 29, as shown in FIG. 5. The collar 13 and the
secondary release
element 29 preferably have complementary sloped surfaces, such that, as the
collar 13 is
raised, the slopes are engaged, and a force is applied to release the latch 24
as shown in FIG.
6, which also moves the gripping members 32 of the tubular gripping assembly
to engage the
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running tool 56. In this position, the latching assembly is locked into the
release position and
is securely attached to the running tool 56 and can therefore be safely
removed. The
secondary release element 29 may be useful if the latch 24 becomes stuck in
the latched
position due to a buildup of debris, mechanical or electrical failure, etc. It
may also be used
as a secondary lock against the latch 24 moving to the latched position during
removal, and in
the depicted example, helps maintain the cantilevered gripping arm in the
gripping position.
[0024] A preferred example of a latching assembly will now be described
with respect to
FIG. 1 - 6. The assembly 100 is designed to operate a mechanical latching and
retrieval
assembly via remote control without the aid of umbilical lines or power
cables. In this
example, the assembly is preferably powered by a self-contained power source.
The
mechanical latch assemblies are operated by an electrical device, where the
direction in which
the latches are operated is determined by the polarity the current is applied
to the electrical
device. The assembly is controlled by a wireless device inside the housing,
and the wireless
device is controlled by a stand-alone workstation situated elsewhere, such as
at surface. The
operation of this preferred example of the device will now be given, with
reference to the
drawings.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 1 and 2, the initial latching procedure of the
depicted example
will now be described:
1. Signal is sent to wireless device 37 via remote work station
2. Wireless device 37 sends signal to electrical device 27 which receive power
from self-contained power source 35
3. Electrical device 27 moves latch shaft 25 which is connected to latch
segment
24, which is pushed outwards from housing 1 into the lock position, from the
position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2.
4. Latch lock ring 15 is moved by electrical device 19 and with the aid of
latch
lock ring spring 18 into lock position behind latch shaft 25, as shown in FIG.
2.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 5 and 6, the unlatching procedure will now be
described:
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1. Signal is sent to wireless device 37 via remote work station
5. Wireless device 37 sends signal to electrical device 19 which receive power
from self-contained power source 35
2. Latch lock ring 15 is moved out of lock position behind latch
shaft 25.
3. Electrical device 27, which receives power from self-contained power source
35 moves latch shaft 25 and latch segment 14 that is attached with the aid of
latch springs 26 into the unlatched position.
6. Electrical device 23 which receive power from self-contained power source
35
moves unlatch lock ring 20 with the aid of unlatch lock ring spring 22 into
the
lock position in front of latch shaft 25
[0027] Referring to FIG. 5 and 6, the procedure for extending the
retrieval arm will now
be described:
1. Signal is sent to wireless device 37 via a remote work station
2. Electrical device 27, which receives power from self-contained power source
35 moves latch shaft 25 and latch segment 24 that is attached with the aid of
latch springs 26 into the unlatch position
3. Latch shaft 25 pushes unlock sleeve segment pin 30 with attached unlock
sleeve segment 29 which pushes unlock sleeve fulcrum pin 31 which pushes
retrieval arm 32 and forces it to pivot outwards due to retrieval arm anchor
pin
33
[0028] Referring to FIG. 5 and 6, the procedure for retracting the
retrieval arm will now
be described:
1. Signal is sent to wireless device 37 via remote work station
2. Electrical device 23, which receives power from self-contained power source
35, moves unlatch lock ring 20 into the unlock position below latch shaft 25
3. Electrical device 27, which receive power from self-contained power source
35, moves latch shaft 25 and latch segment 24 that is attached into latch
position
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4. Latch shaft 25 pulls unlock sleeve segment pin 30 with attached unlock
sleeve
segment 29 which pulls unlock sleeve fulcrum pin 31 which pulls retrieval
arm 32 and forces it to pivot inwards due to retrieval arm anchor pin 33.
5 [0029] Referring to FIG. 5 and 6, the procedure for retrieving the
bearing using a running
tool will now be described:
1. Unlatched running tool 41 is run in hole via drill pipe
2. Unlatched running tool 41 is landed in profile of unlock sleeve
13
3. Unlock sleeve 13 is moved upwards shearing shear pins 14
10 4. Unlock sleeve 13 continues to travel upwards and contacts latch
lock ring pin
16 which is attached to latch lock ring 15 and begins to moves upwards
S. Latch lock ring 15 moves out of lock position and allows latch
shaft 25 to
move inwards via latch spring 26
6. Unlock sleeve 13 continues to travel upwards and contacts unlock sleeve
segment 29 which is attached to unlock sleeve segment pin 30 which pulls
lock shaft 25 inwards to ensure latch segment 24 is fully retracted to unlock
position.
7. Unlock sleeve 13 continues to travel upwards and contacts unlock sleeve
segment 29 which is attached to unlock sleeve segment pin 30 which pushes
unlock sleeve fulcrum pin 31 which pushes retrieval arm 32 and forces it to
pivot outwards due to retrieval arm anchor pin 33
8. Unlatch lock ring 20 moves into lock position with the aid of unlatch
lock ring
spring 22 preventing latch shaft 25 from moving.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 11 and 12, an alternative latching assembly 200 is
shown. In
this example, the latch 202 is carried on a shaft 204 within the housing 205
having a sloped
plate 206. The force to move the shaft 204 and therefore the latch 202 is
applied to the sloped
plate 206. The latching actuator 208 that controls the position of the latch
202 includes an
upper portion 210 that engages a top end 212 of the plate 206 and a lower
portion 214 that
engages a bottom end 216 of the plate 206. As the latching actuator 208
engages the sloped
plate 206, the latch 202 is forced out to the latch position as shown in FIG.
11, in which the
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latch 202 engages the riser assembly (not shown), or back to the release
position as shown in
FIG. 12, in which the latch 202 is retracted to be flush with the housing 205.
As can be seen,
the latching actuator 208 overlaps the sloped plate 206 in an axial direction
such that it locks
the latch 202 in either the latched position or the released, retracted
position. As with the
example described above, cantilevered gripping members 218 are provided that
are forced
inward when the latches 202 move to the release position, such that the
gripping members
218 grip the tubular member (not shown) passing through the latching assembly
200. In this
example, first end 252 of gripping members 218 has a first pivotal connection
256 between
gripping members 218 and actuator 208, as well as a second pivotal connection
258 spaced
along gripping members 218 from the first connection 256. This second pivotal
connection
258 connects the gripping members 218 to the housing 205. In this example the
actuator 208
moves radially in order to move the gripping members 218 between the gripping
position and
the release position. While the controls are not shown in this example, the
latching actuator
208 is preferably a piston that is driven hydraulically.
[0031] At
the top of the assembly 200 are a series of bolts 220 that act as a mechanical
linkage and are mechanically connected to the latching actuator 208. Should it
become
necessary, an upward force can be applied to the series of bolts 220 to cause
the latching
actuator 208 to move upward and force the latches 202 to move to the release
position.
During normal operation, the bolts 220 will move up and down with the latching
actuator 208,
as shown in FIG. 11 and 12, but will not affect the operation of assembly 200.
However,
bolts 220 provide a manual release for the assembly 200 in the event that
there a failure in the
normal operation of the assembly. As depicted, the housing 205 has an upper
section 222
with an engagement surface, in this case an inner groove 224, that engages
with a release tool
(not shown). Once the inner groove 224 is engaged, the release tool may then
apply an
upward, mechanical force to the upper section 222. As the upper section 222 is
lifted, it
engages the bolts 220 and lifts them as well. The upward force on the bolts
220 that are
connected to the latching actuator 208 provide a second motive force, this one
mechanical, to
lift the latching actuator 208. As the latching actuator 208 is lifted, it
engages the latches 202
and pulls them back to the release position as shown in FIG. 13. As the
latches 202 are
released, it also causes the cantilevered gripping members 218 to move inward,
such that any
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pipe joints will be gripped by these members, and allow the assembly to be
lifted to surface
with the tubing string even if the release tool fails. Shear pins or other
releasable locks may
be provided to ensure that the manual release is not activated
unintentionally.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 14 and 15, a further example of a latching
assembly 200 is
shown. As in FIG. 12 and 13, latches 202 move as a result of latching actuator
208 moving
between a first position and a second position. As shown, actuator 208 engages
or is attached
to latch members 202 and gripping members 218. When actuator 208 moves from
the first
position to the second position, actuator 208 moves latch members 202 from the
latch position
.. shown in FIG. 14 to the release position shown in FIG. 15, where it is
flush or recessed with
housing 205. At the same time, actuator 208 moves gripping members 218 from
the retracted
position shown in FIG. 14 to the gripping position shown in FIG. 15 wherein
the second end
254 of the gripping members extend into the inner bore such that they can
engage a tubular
member, similar to what is shown in FIG. 6. Housing 205 is a tubular housing
having an outer
surface and an inner surface that defines an inner bore, and latch members 202
are carried by
the housing. The housing 205 is shaped such that in the latch position latch
members 202
extend out from the outer surface, and in the release position latch members
202 are flush
with the surface of housing 205, or are recessed into housing 205, as
previously discussed.
Gripping members 218 are also attached to the housing 205. In the example
shown in FIG. 14
.. and 15, the gripping members 218 are attached by a pivot point 256 at first
end 252. First end
252 also has and a cam surface 250 that engages the actuator 208. In this
example, when
actuator 208 moves axially along the housing 205 and applies a force to the
cam surface 250,
the gripping members 218 are rotated by the cam surface 250, pivoting between
the gripping
position and the release position. FIG. 14 shows the gripping members 218 in a
release
.. position. As actuator 208 engages latch 202, cam surface 250 is also
engaged such that
gripping members 218 move to the gripping position shown in FIG. 15. It will
be understood
that gripping members 218 may also be rotated using other design, such as
those described
previously. As shown in FIG. 14 and 15, latching assembly 200 has six gripping
members
218. It will be understood that latching assembly 200 may have different
numbers of gripping
members with different shapes and configurations, as required for the
application.
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[0033] In
the example in FIG. 14 and 15, latches 202 are not connected directly with
gripping members 218 as shown in the previous examples. In this case, when
actuator 208
engages latches 202 to move them between positions, bolts 220 are also
engaged. As shown
in FIG. 14, when the latch 202 is in the latching position, bolts 202 are
lowered, and upper
.. portion 210 of actuator 208 resides lower than top end 212 of sloped plate
206. As the latch
202 is moved toward the retracted position through the engagement of lower
portion 214 of
the actuator 208 with the bottom end 216 of sloped plate 206, the top end 212
of sloped plate
206 engages with upper portion 210 of actuator 208. As these sloped surfaces
move further
into contact, bolts 220 are moved upwards and engage cam surface 250 of
gripping members
218. The axial movement of bolts 220 causes the rotational movement of
gripping members
218 to the gripping position shown in FIG. 15. As previously described, bolts
can also 220
provide for a manual release mechanism in the event of a failure.
[0034] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-
limiting sense to
mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically
mentioned are not
excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not
exclude the
possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context
clearly requires that
there be one and only one of the elements.
[0035] The
following claims are to be understood to include what is specifically
illustrated
and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, and what can be
obviously substituted.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set
forth in the
examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the
description as a
whole.
